Tips for Christmas and Beef

What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

How to Thaw Beef

How to Freeze Beef

How to Store Beef

Tip

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

There are several reasons Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25. The date is nine months after March 25, a day recognized by Christians as Annunciation. It was the day Mary was told she would was having a baby. The nine months that follow are an approximation of Jesus’ birth. Dec. 25 also coincides with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations like Saturnalia' and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Since they were historically celebrated around that time of year there was precedent for holiday festivities during this time of year.

Tip

What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is a shortened from the words “Christ’s mass.” It’s derived from the Middle English word "Cristemasse" which has Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Christmas is an annual holiday that honors the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians around the world and is regarded as an important religious and cultural holiday.

Tip

How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is traditionally celebrated in many ways and celebrations vary across cultures. In the days leading up to Christmas, people usually put up special decorations including colorful lights and evergreen trees. Gifts are often placed under the tree and exchanged on Christmas day among loved ones. Large meals are also typically served as part of the celebration as well.

Tip

How to Thaw Beef

As with most meat, the safest way to thaw beef is in the refrigerator. Small cuts of beef can take up to 24 hours, while larger slabs can take a few days. If you’re in a pinch, frozen beef can be thawed in a bowl or container of lukewarm water. Place the bowl or container in the sink and leave under a running faucet. Never allow raw beef to thaw or sit on a counter or cutting board. Since it takes longer to thaw than most meats, it is more susceptible to bacteria growth.

Tip

How to Freeze Beef

In order to effectively freeze beef, you’ll want to limit its exposure to air. This not only prevents the production of freezer burn, but also extends its shelf life to three months or longer. The best way to package beef is to wrap it tightly in freezer paper or plastic wrap. You should then wrap the meat in a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a plastic bag.

Tip

How to Store Beef

For ground beef, keep refrigerated and use within one to two days. It can stay in its original container if the packaging hasn’t been opened. Steaks follow the same protocol, but can last a bit longer at three to five days. It’s actually best to allow a little airflow with stored meat, as tightly-adhered plastic like Saran wrap can make meat sweat and, as a result, less tender. Meat can be transferred to plastic containers, but should be covered loosely.

Huge roasts seem like an ordeal to prepare, but this one is pretty simple. Cut the bones away from the meat (it doesn’t take a butcher to do it right), make a basic mustard and peppercorn paste, rub it all over the meat, tie the bones back on, let the meat sit for at least an hour, and roast. There’s no flipping, stirring, or sauce-making involved. All you need is a trusty meat thermometer and a tasty side dish to serve this with.

Special equipment: You’ll need kitchen twine for this recipe.

Game plan: The roast is ready for the oven after 1 hour’s seasoning time, but for best results, season it overnight. And it takes 2 to 2 1/4 hours to roast, so plan accordingly.

Tips for Christmas and Beef

Tip

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

There are several reasons Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25. The date is nine months after March 25, a day recognized by Christians as Annunciation. It was the day Mary was told she would was having a baby. The nine months that follow are an approximation of Jesus’ birth. Dec. 25 also coincides with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations like Saturnalia' and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Since they were historically celebrated around that time of year there was precedent for holiday festivities during this time of year.

Read More

1 of 6

Next: What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

Tip

What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is a shortened from the words “Christ’s mass.” It’s derived from the Middle English word "Cristemasse" which has Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Christmas is an annual holiday that honors the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians around the world and is regarded as an important religious and cultural holiday.

Read More

2 of 6

Next: How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

Tip

How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is traditionally celebrated in many ways and celebrations vary across cultures. In the days leading up to Christmas, people usually put up special decorations including colorful lights and evergreen trees. Gifts are often placed under the tree and exchanged on Christmas day among loved ones. Large meals are also typically served as part of the celebration as well.

Read More

3 of 6

Next: How to Thaw Beef

Tip

How to Thaw Beef

As with most meat, the safest way to thaw beef is in the refrigerator. Small cuts of beef can take up to 24 hours, while larger slabs can take a few days. If you’re in a pinch, frozen beef can be thawed in a bowl or container of lukewarm water. Place the bowl or container in the sink and leave under a running faucet. Never allow raw beef to thaw or sit on a counter or cutting board. Since it takes longer to thaw than most meats, it is more susceptible to bacteria growth.

Read More

4 of 6

Next: How to Freeze Beef

Tip

How to Freeze Beef

In order to effectively freeze beef, you’ll want to limit its exposure to air. This not only prevents the production of freezer burn, but also extends its shelf life to three months or longer. The best way to package beef is to wrap it tightly in freezer paper or plastic wrap. You should then wrap the meat in a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a plastic bag.

Read More

5 of 6

Next: How to Store Beef

Tip

How to Store Beef

For ground beef, keep refrigerated and use within one to two days. It can stay in its original container if the packaging hasn’t been opened. Steaks follow the same protocol, but can last a bit longer at three to five days. It’s actually best to allow a little airflow with stored meat, as tightly-adhered plastic like Saran wrap can make meat sweat and, as a result, less tender. Meat can be transferred to plastic containers, but should be covered loosely.

Never refrigerate raw meat if it’s been sitting out beyond two hours.

Read More

6 of 6

Next: Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

Instructions

1Place the garlic and salt together on a cutting board. Make a paste by pressing down on the blade of a chef’s knife and dragging the side of it across the garlic and salt at a 15-degree angle, smashing them together until a paste forms. Place in a medium bowl.

2Place the peppercorns in a plastic zip-top bag and crack them on a work surface with a mallet or frying pan until they’re broken into small pieces but not pulverized. Put in the bowl with the garlic-salt paste, add the mustard, and mix until combined; set aside. Cut (2) 24-inch-long pieces of kitchen twine; set aside.

3Rinse the roast under cold water to remove any bone fragments, pat it dry with paper towels, and place it on the cutting board. Following the line of the bones, cut the meat away in 1 piece. Rub the meat all over with the mustard mixture. Fit the meat back onto the bones, matching the original position. Tie the meat onto the bones using 1 piece of twine in between each bone. (You can watch the CHOW Test Kitchen’s Christine Gallary demonstrate cutting away the meat and reassembling it on the bones in our video on the easiest way to make prime rib.)

4Place the roast fat-side up on a large plate or baking sheet and refrigerate uncovered overnight. (Alternatively, it can be roasted after sitting at room temperature for 1 hour.)

5Remove the roast from the refrigerator and place it fat-side up in a roasting pan. Let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 450°F and arrange a rack in the lower third.

6Roast for 45 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 125°F for medium rare, about 75 to 90 minutes more.

7Transfer the roast to a cutting board, tent it loosely with aluminum foil, and let it rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the twine and bones, slice, and serve.

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